Charming Dolls

I gave my friend, Christina, some Jennifer Paganelli scraps and look what she did! Aren't they just adorable?? I'm trying to convince her to open an etsy shop. Right now they are up for sale at her Art Quilt group's exhibition. I went to the night where there was a reception and got to see all these amazing art quilts made by her as well as others. So inspiring!

Here she is helping me sew a Crazy Love quilt. I love our time to sew together! :)

What I've Been Doing Lately

Fashion Formula Skirt pattern by Kay Whitt

Jennifer Paganelli twin quilt set

I've had lots of different projects I've been working on. I took some time off to have some surgery (hysterectomy) & realized that I needed to wear either drawstring, loose skirts or dresses. I sewed up some skirts using Kay Whitt's pattern from her Fashion Formula Skirts booklet which I LOVE! The strip skirts only require 8-9" strips, so you can easily use up some half or quarter yards you have laying around. I used Anna Maria Horner's Field Study in the aqua/yellow combo as well as a mini check from Michael Miller. The second skirt is all from Queen Street (Jennifer Paganelli). There are lots of other variations to try & I'm really looking forward to it. There are lots of drawings, so there was never a confusing part as I was sewing. I didn't do a good job distributing the gathers with the first skirt, but learned for the second one. I also bought some of her dress patterns- the Diane Kimono & the Bebe dress which Kay modeled so beautifully at Quilt Market. I also have the Monique dress, but haven't tried it yet. You can find all of her patterns here

Next up is a twin size quilt I finished along with matching pillowcases (not pictured) & pillow shams in Jane from Super Fly. As always, I love mixing Jennifer's fabrics & I used Crazy Love & Super Fly with some blue and green additions from Honey Child & Queen Street. It feels so good to be back sewing again and to immerse myself in this creative world again!

Dorm or Twin Set Ready to Ship

I just finished making this set that would fit a dorm bed or twin bed. It is 60x72, so the length is slightly shorter than a twin mattress, but you can pull the blanket down a little to make room for the pillows. It is pictured on a queen size bed positioned horizontally. I've included a pillowcase & 14" throw pillow cover. The sham is not included. It's all ready to ship in the shop! :)

Quilt It!

I love the opportunity to free motion quilt some swirls. I use a Juki TL-2000 Qi. I love how it quilts~ it's a workhorse! For this eclectic mix of fabrics I chose a variegated pink Aurifil thread. The backing fabric is Natasha in red & the binding is Cecilia in brown. I think that sometimes one of the hardest decisions is choosing the thread color for the quilting. Often, the backing fabric has a greater influence on the choice for me. I like it to somewhat blend when I am doing the swirls as I sometimes feel like I am scribbling all over the fabric designer's artwork! I love the crinkly goodness that results after washing when it's quilted all over. I hope Kristin enjoys her quilt!
Additional info: it is available as a made to order quilt in my shop. :)

Millie's Market Tote

I am guest blogging on Sara Lawson's blog as part of the exciting Purse Palooza this month! Lots of prizes as well, go check it out! Here is the rest of the tour schedule:
June 18 - Monique @ Sew Fun by Monique (Millie's Market Tote from Happy Home by Jennifer Paganelli)
               Katie @ Swim, Bike, Quilt! (Green Bee Scoop Tote)
June 19 - Jennie @ Clover and Violet (Lunch Bag from Pink Penguin)
               Joanna @ Shape Moth (Emmaline Bag)
June 20 - Jen @ Bettycrockerass (While Baby Naps Metal Clutch)
               Krista @ The Spotted Stone (The Sometimes Crafter Amanda's Knitting Bag)
June 21 - Katy @ The Littlest Thistle (Noodlehead 2-4-1 Tote)
               Terri @ Sew-Fantastic (In Color Order Lined Drawstring Bag)
June 22 - Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy (Amy Butler Weekender Bag)
               Sarah @ Fairy Face Designs (bag from the Bag Making Bible)
June 25 - Amy @ Sukie Don't You Know Who I Am? (Amy Butler Sophia Bag)
                Heather @ {House} of a la Mode (Retro Mama Granny Bag)
June 26 - Julianna @ Jednoiglec (Charlie's Aunt Kitchen Garden Bag)
               Jeni @ In Color Order (Bari J. State Street Tote)
June 27 - Kerry @ Very Kerry Berry (bag from Suzuko Koseki)
               Michelle @ I Like Orange Too (Left Bank Granny Bag)
               Laurie @ On the QT - Quilting Tangents (Betz White Hexie Hipster)
June 28 - Kay Whitt @ Sew Serendipity Studio (tutorial: adjustable strap with metal slider)
               Amy Barickman @ Indygo Junction (tutorial: installing grommets/magnetic snaps)
June 29 - Melissa @ Bittersweet Designs (Bella Nonna Boutique Shoulder Bag)
                Kelly @ Kelby Sews (Pat Bravo Paris Bag)
                Bianca @ Sweet Diesel Designs (Lisa Lam For Pleat's Sake)

Prettiest Apron from Happy Home

I was so excited when Jennifer Paganelli announced that her next book following the amazing Girl's World was going to be called Happy Home. I am more of a home dec sewer than clothing sewer, although the Sis Boom clothing patterns have started to sway me more towards clothing!  :) I am a HUGE fan of everything she does, and this book just continues the beauty and inspiration she gives us every day, with every collection, pattern, project or book.

Pretty girls and their aprons in Happy Home

I wanted to make the Prettiest Apron in the book and was pleased with the results! There were no pattern pieces, just cutting instructions which was great! You make quite a bit of bias edging for the sides/tie top and the gather under the bust that ties in the back as well as the top of the pocket. If you want to purchase premade bias tape, you would need (2) 3 yard packages of 7/8" wide tape. I prefer the look of coordinating, but in a pinch or if you are planning on making a few as gifts, that is another option. The pattern sewed up easily & I like the fit on me. The gathered area under the bust is adjustable, not sewn in a particular position, so you (or the recipient if it's a gift) can adjust the fit.

 You can see me pictured in my own happy kitchen with my Casey Scroll dishtowel & my cute apron on my Devon Peasant top I'm wearing. A girl has to look good in her kitchen, just like the girls pictured! Bottom line, I'd make this again and again & would like to make them for Christmas gifts this year.

There are so many wonderful patterns in this beautiful book to create your own Happy Home making quilts, duvets, pillow shams, throw pillows, bed skirts and more. You can design your home to your tastes using the patterns in this book. Part of the 'happy' in this book is Jennifer's amazing color in her fabrics. My entire sewing room is done in her fabrics and everyone who comes in here calls this my happy room! I couldn't think of a better title for her book!

Fabric details: Priscilla in brown, Amanda Fleur pocket and Maritza dots for accents. Here's the rest of the blog tour, you can still join if you want to make something from Happy Home!

une 11 Jenny Fish  www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 12 Cathy Caprio Peckiconis http://sewingstoryproject.blogspot.com/

June 13 Judy Buchanan  www.hickity-pickity.blogspot.com/ 

 June 14 Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Shannon Branscom Winters www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 15 Leah Kinghorn  http://makinglifewonderful.blogspot.com

June 16 Monique Reynolds  sewfunbymonique.blogspot.com/

June 17 Melissa Peda  100billionstars.com/

June 18 Jamie Harned http://theinsecurequilter.blogspot.com/

June 19 Stephanie Messer Danko www.tabbodesign.blogspot.com/

June 20 Kristi Pernell Elston  burlapbutton.blogspot.com

June 21 Kathy Hennessey  http://handmadedresshaven.blogspot.com/

June 22 Courtney Watford Davis www.sweeterthancupcakes.blogspot.com/

June 23  Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Jade Nocella Jenny Fish  www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 24 Sally Keller http://sallysangelworks.typepad.com
  
June 25 Tour Wrap Up www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com   

Lucy Halter top

I got around to finally playing with the Lucy Halter pattern by Jennifer Paganelli & Carla Crim. You can make a halter top to what ever length you want or a dress in any length from above the knee to the floor. I love the versatility of choices.  As usual, love love love the pattern! Downloadable is the way to go & pictures of every single step is the only way I can feel confident in what I'm sewing. I am a quilter first, clothing is about 20th down on the list of things I sew. This pattern is quilter friendly and uses a 1/4" seam for everything, so I feel right at home! I can't recommend these patterns enough!  You can buy their patterns here or here. I chose an all time favorite Elizabeth Rose in ice for the top & Crazy Love's Cecilia in fuchsia for the bottom. Hope to get some color soon so I look better in it. Until then, I will look forward to warm Southern California days!

The Best of Sis Boom Bedding

I was thrilled when I was asked to create this set as it has all of my favorite Jennifer P fabrics in it that span a wide range of her fabric lines! I am A L M O S T  O U T of the Elizabeth Rose fabric, my fav fav! I am actually working on making a Lucy Halter top with it as I realize when it's gone, it's gone and I want to wear it. I will review that when it's done. I hope Tiffany enjoys her set!

Fresh, Spring Crib Bedding

Oh, how I loved working with these pretty spring colors for Yasmin's crib set! I used Danielle in papaya for the base of the skirt with a patchwork of Jennifer's past lines (also in the blanket) from Honey Child, Flower Power, Poodle, Pretty Please, Queen Street and the newest, Crazy Love. She also ordered pillows which are on my flickr. One with pom pom fringe (too fun!) and one with piping. Hope she loves them!

Good Morning!

Today started out with beautiful California weather, a bouquet of my freesias & a quick few pics of a minky blanket as a tablecloth~ why not?? I had a customer ask about a patchwork tablecloth & we ended up deciding on a patchwork runner (pics when it's finished), so I got to thinking why couldn't this be a tablecloth or table scarf?? I have a small outside table & just draped it across. It would be beautiful to wake up to this setting & have coffee and enjoy the 75 degrees weather with my morning coffee. Alas, this one's shipping out, but maybe once I get caught up I can make one for me! This size is 44x56. Be sure to check out Jennifer's blog to get the latest beautiful happenings there!

Newest Crazy Love Creation

Truth be told, I could find new fabric combinations all day and never be bored! My first Crazy Love project used every fabric from the line and now I'm going through my large Sis Boom stash to mix and match new and old favorites. I adore this color palette of brown, periwinkle & pink. I put pink minky on the back and you can see how it glows in both the sun and shade. Next up, orange, red & aqua!

Crazy Love Messenger Bag

There are oh so many things I want to make with Crazy Love, but I decided to go for my messenger bag. Its a great way to mix up the fabrics. I've been playing with separating the colors more, but really this line calls to be mixed up, eclectic, fun & bright. You just can't go wrong. Flap: Priscilla, front/back Natasha, sides& inside flap Joann, insides Natasha pockets with Cecilia walls, strap on top a mix of it all! If you've been hesitant in mixing fabrics before, this line makes it easy! I've posted various combinations on my flickr under 'fabric choices' if you would like suggestions~ otherwise, dive in! This bag is now available in my shop! :)

Crazy Love Set

I wanted to wait to blog about the Crazy Love quilt and pillow I made for Jennifer Paganelli until after she blogged about it~ after all, its her amazing designs!! All I can say is put on your sunglasses as this is one vibrant collection. Everyone who saw it in my sewing room had a jaw dropping reaction~ its truely stunning! The amazing thing is that this is one fabric line where all the fabrics look good together. There are some color defined groups~ like the brown, fuschia, tangerine, purple, yellow or green, but they all intermingle and when put together make an eclectic gypsy~bohemian~70's look that is so different from anything else out there. It does match with her Honey Child, Queen Street and earlier collections really well. 

I decided after a couple of days of thinking about it to go with a random patchwork pattern that I make so often. I really love that design for large prints as it is showing off the prints rather than the pattern. Since a few of the prints were large scale, I fussy cut some sections so it looks like more fabrics then there really are. I pre cut my usual (plus seam allowance) 8x8, 8x6, 8x4, 6x6, 6x4 & 4x4 plus large square in the corner is 11x11 because I really wanted to feature that design completely somewhere. After that I just played with the colors and patterns to get a pleasing mix and sewed it all up and backed it with fuchsia minky. For the pillow, I did a log cabin variation and started with a square in the corner and kept adding on different width strips to get a finished size of 16x16. I tried to mimic a crazy quilt using my different stitches on my Viking, here's a closeup

I used iron on batting to keep it simple, then used the pompom trim and backed with fuchsia minky & voila we have a crazy, eclectic set for anyone who wants an adventure in color

Crazy Love comes out in March~ can't wait to play with it all again. Can you imagine the amazing crib bedding this would make???

Crazy Love Tee

I made progress on my Crazy Love quilt over the weekend and LOVE how its coming along! I usually applique a design from a favorite fabric onto a tee shirt. I couldn't decide which one from Crazy Love, so I decided to make a patchwork block to applique. I started with a 1 1/2" square and kept adding different size strips around the center until it measured approximately 5". I ironed wonder under to the back and fused it to the tee and then used a decorative stitch from my machine with a flower motif to attach to the tee permanently. It looks great with my green sweater and jeans!!

Hubby Helps

I just had to take this photo of my husband! I was taking pictures of a blanket I finished and he was looking over the start of my Crazy Love quilt and had an opinion! One of the patches had the pattern sideways and he said he preferred all the prints facing the same direction. I see his point, but I like them in different directions in the random patchwork as that is part of the randomness. Tom is amazing in construction and creating as he's remodeled 3 houses for us. I value his opinion and am glad he cares~ but cute boy, I know what I'm doing! :)

Crazy Love Peek

I just about fell over yesterday when I received this package from Jennifer Paganelli!!! Its fat quarters from her entire new line coming out in March called CRAZY LOVE. I have been waiting for Girls World Vibe to come out and hadn't even seen images of these fabrics yet! (I stalk her blog looking for peeps of new stuff!) I think what I love most about this line is the intricacy of the patterns and the (of course) super amazing color combinations that Jennifer is so famous for. This line is true Jennifer style with a 70's nod, but in incredible, electric colors. The orange fabric in the middle picture thats in the middle was hard to photograph on its own it is so electric!
I get to be part of a project with Katy from I'm A Ginger Monkey, Heather from Olive and Ollie and Toni in making projects introducing Crazy Love. If you love this line and Jennifer Paganelli (who doesn't??), then be checking back on my blog and the other amazing sewists blogs to see all the goodies we're going to make out of this amazing fabric!